2014 World Cup: Germany destroy Brazil to put one hand on the trophy

In a quite extraordinary match in Belo Horizonte the World Cup hosts Brazil were embarrassed and rightfully defeated 7-1 in the semi-finals by a ruthless German side.

Germany were able to put 7 past Brazil whilst Oscar’s late strike was able to give the hosts a useless consolation in a truly memorable World Cup game.

It all began when Germany scored from Toni Kroos’ corner that found Thomas Muller inexplicably unmarked eight yards out, who found the net with a neat side foot which rolled underneath Julio cesar. Dante and David Luiz both drawn away by decoy runs, The finish looked easy, but wasn’t.

After Germany’s first, another attack was on the way with a cross-field pass by Muller that Fernandinho should have cut out, but failed to. There followed a superb interchange of passes between Kroos, Miroslav Klose and Muller again, that ended with Klose forcing a save from Julio Cesar. The ball rebounded to his feet and he made no mistake second time – to become, with 16 goals, the World Cup’s top scorer unopposed, moving one ahead of Brazil’s Ronaldo. It would have served as an omen, had Brazil been given time to consider one.

A minute later, Lahm surged down the right before crossing, and when Muller missed his kick – a rare aberration – Kroos struck his shot straight as an arrow leaving Cesar no chance. An uneasy quiet settled on the arena.

The game was gone now, and dignity was clinging by its fingertips. Not for long, almost from the restart Fernandinho lost possession, and Kroos and Khedira advanced on goal, unselfishly swooping passes almost as if they were reluctant to apply the final thrust of the sword. In the end, it fell to Kroos to administer the blow.

Mesut Ozil cut the ball back to Khedira for the fifth on 29 minutes and the stadium audibly gasped. Cameras that usually focus on happy, smiling Brazilians were effortlessly able to find tears everywhere around the stadium.

Andre Schurrle delivered the sixth from a neat square pass by Lahm in the 69th minute. The same player smashed yet another goal in from an acute angle against a hapless Cesar for the seventh ten minutes later. It officially became the worst night of football in Brazil’s history. Oscar scored in injury time, although by then everyone had seen quite enough.

Germany will now set their sights on either Argentina or the Netherlands which will be decided tomorrow in the second of semi-finals.